tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59969460245518139622024-03-14T03:40:58.079-07:00A Feth's Perspective on LifeWith Love From the Golden StateJ*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-22377000739008072172013-11-07T12:44:00.000-08:002013-11-07T12:44:45.036-08:00Autumn in the Midwest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Brian and I typically make our annual family visit to the Midwest during Christmas and New Year's. This year we'll celebrate Christmas and ring in 2014 California style (trust me, that doesn't mean glamorous parties, champagne fountains and celebrity sightings, no we'll probably just stay in with our dog Milo, barely making it to midnight). </div>
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This year's trip to visit Indiana relatives came during the comfortable hues of Autumn. We don't quite experience the same vibrancy of changing colors in our state of Goldenness, so we were sure to enjoy the evolving palate.</div>
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Here are some photos from my brother's farm.</div>
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Drink. It. In.</div>
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J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-60702303333646936622013-10-07T15:10:00.001-07:002013-10-07T15:10:32.715-07:00Into the Wilderness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Wilderness.<br />
Google tells us that wilderness is defined as: <i>an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region. </i><br />
Well, that's not necessarily rolling out the welcome mat now is it?<br />
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Despite this unappealing description, so many of us living in the beautiful state of California regularly seek out wilderness; whether it's to host a fun BBQ in Golden Gate Park on a Saturday afternoon, to take the dog for a hike, or to embark on a 30 mile, 4 day backpacking trip in Yosemite (yep, did that!) Wilderness is ultimately inviting, the very fact that it's uncultivated, uninhabited is what lures us in. There's an appetite for the undeveloped, untouched regions of our planet. We wish to experience these spaces as if to experience and unveil the meaning of our own lives.<br />
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Thoreau wrote extensively about this:<i> </i><br />
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<i>I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.</i></div>
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Wilderness.<br />
That's how I would describe 2013 thus far.<br />
There have been gorges filled with sorrow, waterfalls spraying with joy, and towering trees pointing to a hopeful sky. The year has been a winding path through pristine flowered meadows disrupted by large granite boulders that requires one to grip carefully to scramble over their mass.<br />
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Wilderness.<br />
Quiet, calm, beautiful.<br />
Rustic, jagged, crude.<br />
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Wilderness: discuss.<br />
Sunday Brian and I were churchin' it up at our amazing San Francisco <a href="http://www.citychurchsf.org/" target="_blank">City Church</a>. Last month the preaching team began a 9-month journey through the biblical story and yesterday's reading came from Exodus 16: 1-18, NRSV. The first three verses in particular stood out to me:<br />
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<i>'The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, 'If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.' </i><br />
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The Israelites had just fled Egypt and were now in the wilderness with Moses and Aaron, complaining about how back in Egypt they at least had their fill of meat and bread and weren't dying of hunger.<br />
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The next verse describes God talking to Moses about how He is going to rain bread from heaven that the people must go out and gather. This is a test to see whether the Israelites will trust Him and follow His instruction or not.<br />
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When I first heard this reading, it brought me to a time when this year I found myself complaining to God just like the Israelites, 'if only I was back in a certain place or if only I could go back to a certain time in my life then things would be better, instead of being here in this barren wilderness'.<br />
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It is actually in this year of wilderness where I've been learning to trust God.<br />
Don't get me wrong, it hasn't come without my complaints, just as the Israelites wanted their fill of meat and bread, I've been whining about the lack of hot cocoa and s'mores to comfort me during this journey. That's when God pretty much tells me to go out and gather more firewood, which I do so reluctantly.<br />
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On Sunday our pastor explained that when we're in the wilderness with God, there will be work to do. That's not to say we earn our way out but rather we process through it. Fortunately, God is our trusty guide. It's certainly not always a walk in the park, as there are days filled with bouldering and wading through murky creeks but over that mountain peak we can be pleasantly surprised by breathtaking views and epic sunsets; signposts that we're headed in the right direction. <br />
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There are seasons in life where we voluntarily seek out the uncultivated, uninhabited terrain called wilderness and others where God takes us there kicking and screaming. Either way, going through the wilderness is a process that requires work, trust and listening and God is there every step of the way.<br />
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J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-17359451178618234342013-09-23T02:44:00.000-07:002013-09-23T02:44:20.349-07:00Well, Hello There!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It seems like every which way you click these days, everyone's on the blogin' wagon....which reminded me, "Oh yes, what's mine been up to lately?"<br />
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Well, nada. <br />
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A solid year has passed by and this poor blog has been tight lipped about all of life's wild and exciting adventures. Guess the hubster and I were just out having too much fun; or rather (!), according to my calculations, a year ago, almost to the day, we brought home a sweet little puppy named Arthur - whom we quickly renamed Milo. <i>Arthur</i> just isn't something you can get away with shouting out at a dog park, now is it?<br />
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Yes, that seems to be the reason behind the year-long silence = we got a dog. And he's been ever so delightful! And ever so much work, at least especially in the beginning, but well worth the training and the puppy classes and all the other silly things people pour their hearts and wallets out for when they get a pre-kid dog.<br />
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So, what better way to dust off the edges of this blog than with a few pictures that highlight the last year (that's seven doggie years for Mr. Milo Feth):<br />
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<b>You can see Milo (dog formerly known as Arthur) and I hit it off right away!</b></div>
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We rescued him on September 22, 2012.</div>
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<b>The cuteness factor in our apartment went up real fast.</b></div>
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<b>And kept going.</b></div>
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<b>But then this happened...</b></div>
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<b>Yep. Milo is no Great Dane but he's trying hard to be one, at least so it seems. </b></div>
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<b>He's certainly all legs and ears! </b></div>
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<b>More specifically, he's a lab/shepherd mix with a big dose of mutt love. </b></div>
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<b>*Yeah, I think we'll keep him*</b></div>
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J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-89130504200092144572012-07-31T16:26:00.000-07:002013-10-07T10:58:44.198-07:00To the Top of Europe and Beyond<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Switzerland really outdid itself for our fourth weekend extravaganza. </div>
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Blown away by larger than life mountaintops, we traveled to Berner Oberland nestled in the depths of the Swiss Alps at the <i>Top of Europe</i>. </div>
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We took a cozy train from Basel to Interlaken, transferred onto an adorable cogwheel train to Lauterbrunnen, boarded a stomach dropping gondola ride up a mountain side, embarked on another cogwheel train and finally landed in the car-free village of Murren.</div>
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We arrived Thursday night and stayed at the Hotel Alpina.</div>
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Not a bad view, eh?</div>
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Friday was a bit cloudy in and around Murren but we headed up past the clouds to </div>
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Schilthorn and the rotating restaurant called Piz Gloria. </div>
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Fun fact: the 1969 James Bond movie, <i>On Her Majesty's Secret Service</i>, was filmed here. Can't say that I recall this Bond all that well...sorry James...</div>
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Just above the clouds.</div>
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It was breathtaking!</div>
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We spent most of the day there just taking in the view. </div>
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We grabbed a delicious traditional Swiss lunch inside the rotating Piz Gloria. </div>
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As we were getting ready to head back down to earth, we were told that some technical difficulties with the cable cars had been detected and that we had to catch the last car down at 4:30pm. </div>
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So we did just that. </div>
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We took the gondola down to the Birg station and waited to take the last leg to Murren. </div>
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Unfortunately, that was the end of our trip down the mountain via cable car; for the first time in 40 years, one of the cable wheels had given out and the only way down was to hike. This was conveyed after they realized they wouldn't be able to get a helicopter to take us down due to bad weather - bummer, a helicopter ride would have been nice! </div>
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The cable car operators-turned-guides handed out water, bags of chips, apples, and safety blankets to our pack of about 50. It almost seemed like a scene from a movie as we began our slow and careful descent down the mountain.</div>
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Fortunately, it wasn't a strenuous hike and there were proper trails to lead the way down along with our new guides. The misfortune was that it started to rain not long after we started our 2 hour journey. </div>
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Once we reached the bottom the Swiss did as they do best, with keen attention to detail and organization, they swiftly accounted for everybody and took down our contact information so they could compensate us for the trouble. All of this over a nice hot meal. </div>
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Well done. That's me doing the well done dance...</div>
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That next day we welcomed the continued rain as it blanketed Murren with a damp grey cover and the mountains with fresh snow. To make the most of the indoors, we enjoyed a morning swim in our new hotel, Hotel Eiger, and then set out on a self-guided tour of Murren and it's pubs.</div>
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We ended the chilly day with a hearty pot of fondue!</div>
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On our final day in the Berner Oberland it was to the Top of Europe or bust. The rain subsided and the clouds parted and we made the 6 hour round-trip to Jungfrau at over 11,388 feet.</div>
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The journey to the top was beautiful. Here's a view of the Lauterbrunnen valley.</div>
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The other small car-free village, Wengen. </div>
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Everywhere you looked there were cows wearing their chiming cowbells. </div>
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Jungfrau</div>
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The clouds would swoop in at any minute. It was freezing up there!</div>
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The building at the top of Jungfrau had several activities to enjoy along with restaurants that had epic views.</div>
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There was an ice center with ice sculptures and fun passageways.</div>
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We enjoyed the best leek soup with mountain cheese at the Crystal Restaurant. </div>
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Berber Oberland is one of the most beautiful natural places we've ever visited, we're so thankful for this weekend and the opportunity to enjoy its loveliness.....despite getting stuck on top of a mountain! </div>
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J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-8407307018953662452012-07-25T06:48:00.001-07:002012-07-25T06:48:54.666-07:00Ooh La La Vevey!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Quaint, romantic, colorful, and French. This describes the mesmerizing little town of Vevey, Switzerland. Located on Lake Geneva, we cozied ourselves right in to this inviting retreat for our third weekend in Switzerland. </div>
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On the 13th of July, which just so happened to be a Friday, I took a 3 hour morning train ride from Basel to Vevey. There at the station I was greeted by a lovely woman named Antoinette. Antoinette walked us 10 minutes to her adorable flat overlooking Lake Geneva. </div>
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She made sure I had everything I needed and then was off. This was our home for the weekend, Antoinette's apartment, thanks to the superb site, <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">airbnb</a> - a must try!</div>
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The view from the living room. </div>
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(France is on the other side of the lake) </div>
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Brian was scheduled to meet me that evening once he finished with work, so I took in the town and became acquainted with French speaking Switzerland....<i>oui, voila!</i></div>
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The name of our street. </div>
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Walking along the promenade circling Lake Geneva.</div>
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Swans! <i>Voila!</i></div>
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Rich colors existed everywhere, from the flower boxes, to the buildings, and the sidewalks; everything was manicured beautifully by the Swiss.</div>
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Brian arrived that evening and brought some of the rain from Basel, yet we still enjoyed a drink outside underneath a patio umbrella along this adorable street near our dwelling.</div>
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Our focus that weekend had been intended for the popular Montreux jazz festival, but after reviewing the lineup, to our surprise no jazz performers were playing, only pop artists. Instead we opted for the morning Folklore festival, exploring Vevey, and a train ride to the mountains.</div>
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What's a traditional Swiss Folklore festival without local wines?! We each purchased a souvenir glass and enjoyed unlimited tastings. <i>Merci!</i></div>
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There was much alphorn, yodeling, and accordion music to enjoy along with some appetizing farm stands.</div>
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Plenty of pleasing sights to experience, both natural and artistic.</div>
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And then we came to a fork in the water, not the road, but the water - what does one do? </div>
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You look behind you and ask this chap, Charlie Chaplin, to be exact. </div>
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And he refers you to this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CGlV0xO17JPrF1BJFzSOF5QGwGm4Qq3g88WHAKveMIgUWBjVR8qJibO69E4P_Qr9N2-M3ugFjYzmzQGfWkKATc_Npv8ZuBay4E-x25-F9GnCrg8YFl2JNeAAzrk5c7grlRg5IvL-c5M/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CGlV0xO17JPrF1BJFzSOF5QGwGm4Qq3g88WHAKveMIgUWBjVR8qJibO69E4P_Qr9N2-M3ugFjYzmzQGfWkKATc_Npv8ZuBay4E-x25-F9GnCrg8YFl2JNeAAzrk5c7grlRg5IvL-c5M/s640/IMG_2536.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks Charlie!</div>
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Charlie Chaplin lived with his family in Vevey for many years and passed away here in 1977. </div>
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He ended his autobiography with these
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<i>I sometimes sit out on our terrace at sunset and look out over a vast
green lawn to the lake in
the distance, and beyond the lake to the reassuring mountains, and in this mood
think of nothing but enjoy their magnificent serenity.</i> </div>
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We continued our walk along the water's edge and through the hillside of Vevey to Montreux where we took a cogwheel train to Rochers-de-Naye, a mountain peak within the Swiss Alps. </div>
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View of the train station at the top. You can stay overnight in the white yurts on the left, that evening a wedding party had rented out the entire space for their celebrations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qiIdZVJ27GtqYN3v4iLeyqfs1ge5iHa2-KrghUTi6c3Xe5UMEuOVpLbwPKHG1Xj-nf48kf1HmCNEZQKJ-8ftXXAVX1U2QPmglFx48s-aN10MKw5t15TbWu6bdeTBza0uwCZgfsXiXus/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qiIdZVJ27GtqYN3v4iLeyqfs1ge5iHa2-KrghUTi6c3Xe5UMEuOVpLbwPKHG1Xj-nf48kf1HmCNEZQKJ-8ftXXAVX1U2QPmglFx48s-aN10MKw5t15TbWu6bdeTBza0uwCZgfsXiXus/s640/IMG_1939.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The views were epic.</div>
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It was just us and the animals up there!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TPITkL6hZOys3Qm48z6vSC-iL4jwDvCK5UHT7_9A8XDI59fxeUJfGG1_AMQgDk4caytWGkSNC3Ar3MFoRIHJMK1J5MUZx7ey9Jd0bj-J_5RMd_tHiM3l15ByYRA4LzuV56CUAX3KmyY/s1600/IMG_1814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TPITkL6hZOys3Qm48z6vSC-iL4jwDvCK5UHT7_9A8XDI59fxeUJfGG1_AMQgDk4caytWGkSNC3Ar3MFoRIHJMK1J5MUZx7ey9Jd0bj-J_5RMd_tHiM3l15ByYRA4LzuV56CUAX3KmyY/s400/IMG_1814.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rochers-de-Naye is also known as Marmot Paradise because of all the marmots that live on the mountain. Sadly, they've created small enclosures where you can view these critters up close, not what you'd call a paradise exactly. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5bBbHZXfUKVGw3HbQ0iLGKdgszOw3ZgfXVhI05jPKr73LidOzZane1Asc_6FaHGGkVwAsQ4ST0dNREwUfkCLLFGMXSdGsyR7J2GIbhyphenhyphenf3xdGMR6xMtXLg1DjmztEORiDyE3vTuvMfCE/s1600/IMG_1899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5bBbHZXfUKVGw3HbQ0iLGKdgszOw3ZgfXVhI05jPKr73LidOzZane1Asc_6FaHGGkVwAsQ4ST0dNREwUfkCLLFGMXSdGsyR7J2GIbhyphenhyphenf3xdGMR6xMtXLg1DjmztEORiDyE3vTuvMfCE/s400/IMG_1899.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The mountainside had a smattering of bell-wearing sheep. These two kept a close eye on us, making sure we weren't going to bother them or take any of their food. I think there's plenty of grass to go around!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I was pretty stoked to be in the Swiss Alps for the first time.</div>
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Brian was too. </div>
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Wonderful views of Lake Geneva on the last train down. </div>
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After a chilly afternoon in the mountains, we just had to enjoy our first order of Swiss fondue back in Vevey! We had the mixed variety called, Moitié-moitié (or half 'n half): Gruyère and Fribourg vacherin.</div>
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Unbeknownst to us the <i><u>proper</u></i> way to be served Swiss fondue is by a Swiss soldier and a flag-waving chef whilst a Swiss march blares over the restaurant speakers! </div>
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Thanks to Les Trois Sifflets restaurant for a memorable first fondue experience!</div>
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The following day we tried walking off some of that cheesy goodness as we headed to Chateau de Chillon on Lake Geneva looking out towards the Alps. </div>
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First reference to this castle dates as far back to <a href="http://www.chillon.ch/en/castle/its-history" target="_blank">1150</a> when it came under the control of the Counts of Savoy. </div>
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It was only fitting that Brian honored the castle's great history by doing this. </div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chillon" target="_blank">Lord Byron</a> made the castle famous when he wrote the poem, <i>The Prisoner of Chillon</i>, about François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned here from 1530 to 1536. </div>
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The castle left us with not only the knowledge of historical battles and key figures associated with Chillon but also with this little gem to ponder...hmmm...we think it's debatable.</div>
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We wrapped up our weekend in Vevey drinking in the lush fruits of the hillside of Lavaux. The Lavaux region to the west of Vevey exudes extraordinary beauty with its perfectly carved stone walls weaving in and around manicured vineyard terraces. </div>
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This is the Land of the Three Suns, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back almost 1,000 years.</div>
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The vineyards of Lavaux are comprised of over 10,000 terraces spread over 40 levels. </div>
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We visited Lavaux Vinorama and experienced a wonderful flight of local wines.</div>
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According to the winery, the king of the region is Chasselas, a white mainly Swiss grape variety, also used in the production of wine in Alsace, Savoy and Burgundy. </div>
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We couldn't help but take a few home for ourselves: a Gamay, a Chardonnay, and a Merlot. </div>
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<span class="st"><em><span style="font-size: small;">For all the charm, breathtaking vistas, and romantic walks along Lac Leman... </span></em></span></div>
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<span class="st"><em><span style="font-size: small;">merci beaucoup Vevey!!!</span> </em></span></div>
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com1Vevey, Switzerland46.4589 6.8469346.4479615 6.8271890000000006 46.4698385 6.866671tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-14711539647396176952012-07-18T13:23:00.000-07:002012-07-18T13:26:32.825-07:00Weekend 2: Black Forest, Germany (7-8 July)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For our second weekend in Switzerland, we fled the city for nature. Not far from Basel sits the German border, roughly a 15 minute drive by car. Fortunately, that means the Black Forest isn't too far beyond that point, located in the southwestern part of the country, and easily accessible by train. It was there, in Deutschland, where we went exploring through the depths of the Schwarzwald.</div>
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We were excited to take the infamous rail lines of Europe for the very first time. From Basel's German station (Basel SBB Bahnhof) we took an ICE train to Freiburg, switched trains, and then hopped on an R to the small village of Feldberg, our stop Altglashutten-Falkau.</div>
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The trains were comfortable and fast, a perfect way to get around.</div>
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In just under 2 hours time, we were in the Black Forest. We stayed in the quiet village of Feldberg at an adorable inn called Hotel Waldeck. When we arrived at our stop we had about a 10 minute walk along this trail to our cozy abode. </div>
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Hotel Waldeck was perfectly quaint inside and out. Our room had a flower-rimmed balcony and lovely view of the setting sun. We settled in and then went in search of dinner. </div>
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The restaurant at Waldeck had just closed when we arrived, at 8:30pm, so we were advised to check out Gasthaus Zum Dorfkrug up the street. We were so glad we did!</div>
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To the delight of our wallets and our palates we happily engaged in a German feast! Having to carefully choose the least expensive item on the menu in Switzerland (reference: a Big Mac costs 11.50 Swiss franc and a small Starbucks coffee costs 5.90 Swiss franc<i> </i>and the exchange rate is very close to 1:1 =<i> pricey!!!)</i> we welcomed the Euro prices which were a third of what we'd been paying in Basel, we'll <b><i>PROST</i></b> to that!</div>
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The Dorfkrug has been in existence, in the same building, for over 360 years! As an American, it's kind of hard to fathom that kind of history......pretty old stuff here people! </div>
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The bartender was an absolute gem and we made conversation with a local as the three of us closed out the place. It was a good first night in Germany!</div>
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Saturday morning boomed in with a thunderstorm but soon cleared up to reveal deep blue skies and white puffy clouds, a perfect day for the outdoors! That's just what we had in mind after we explored our small village of Feldberg.</div>
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The village was so quaint, that even the fire hydrants had charm. </div>
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On our walk to the train station we came across a small herd of sheep; these natural lawnmowers paid us no attention. The sheepherder wasn't far off. </div>
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The train station.</div>
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The sheepherder.<br />
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We easily navigated public transport to Feldberg Mountain, the highest mountain in Germany, outside of the Alps. </div>
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We took a gondola to the top and skirted along the well-groomed paths, taking in the epic panoramas of the Black Forest.</div>
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It's said that the Black Forest was truly dark and without penetrable light up until the Middle Ages. Much of that changed when trees were felled for lumber. Today there are several hundred small villages that reside within the large forest. </div>
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I was in the presence of a true mountaineer...</div>
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Bismarck monument on the top of Feldberg.</div>
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Perhaps the altitude was getting to me but I kind of felt like singing...</div>
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Following a day in the mountains we were happy to get settled back to our inn at Hotel Waldeck. We enjoyed another hearty dinner, this time at our hotel, but couldn't resist a visit back to the Dorfkrug. The same bartender was there again that night as we enjoyed more conversation and some good German biers!</div>
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The next day we traveled to a nearby village, Titisee. Situated on Lake Titisee, it was bustling with tourists. We enjoyed some shopping and a peaceful self-guided boat ride along the lake. </div>
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Brian's German souvenirs consisted of meat, ham, sausage, beef sticks, and cheese and all at affordable Euro prices. Brian really likes Germany. </div>
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Cuckoo clocks were invented in the Schwarzwald in 1737. </div>
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We rented a little aqua-green electric boat for a one hour ride. </div>
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View of the train we would later take to Freiburg and then home to Basel. </div>
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Danka shein Germany! What a wonderful trip. </div>
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0Feldberg, Germany47.856111 8.11166747.813493 8.0327030000000015 47.898728999999996 8.190631tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-55102435640374490552012-07-16T06:33:00.000-07:002012-07-16T06:35:35.533-07:00First Weekend in Basel (30th June / 1st July)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For our first weekend in Switzerland we decided to see what our new hometown, Basel, had to offer.<br />
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Saturday morning we started with a leisurely hike in the park near our apartment. Hiking is a right here in Switzerland, people take to their walking shoes and hiking poles with a pride seen nowhere else. We can see why, Basel is such a walkable city, friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists alike.<br />
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As we went about our lovely hike, we naturally built up a bit of a thirst, as one does. Fortunately, as we rounded the bend of our trail, we found a hidden beer garden! Oh the Swiss...such timing, so organized!</div>
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We made like locals and engaged in a summery beverage, BIER!</div>
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Following our excursion in the park we headed to Old Town Basel for a guided walking tour. We congregated at this fountain near the Theatre. These mechanized sculptures are works by Swiss artist, Jean Tingueley, who also has a museum in his name on the other side of the Rhine.</div>
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Barefoot plaza, given the name long ago, due to the barefoot monks who walked the cobblestone paths without shoes. </div>
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Bikes! There are two things most Swiss have in common with each other, the first is that they smoke. Oh EVERYONE smokes! The second is that they bike. Perhaps they counter one another as you'll often see many Swiss partaking in both activities at the same time. </div>
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In the cathedral plaza, sits the 11th century Basel Munster (cathedral). It was built in 1019 and is said to be in a perpetual state of renovation. Following a large earthquake in the 14th century, it took several centuries to repair the red sandstone structure, hence the varied architectural styles. </div>
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Making our guided way through the Munsterplatz (cathedral plaza). </div>
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Yes, that's the head of a rooster, on the body of a dragon, with the wings of a bat. No, this isn't a character out of a Harry Potter novel, but rather, it's Basel's basilisk holding the coat of arms featuring the top of a staff. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQZSqlvqSac5HVDGv606dWH_9xn4QKiP5Vw5ANGditXzZeD0BFv1H3xDYUmN02Py2aWss_BUGU3xgRJHo6EseD1iYmfFydzDWZ45YIYmDYB5xL9ZwVdh_4JsWUX8lwiRlvAhAc_afWos/s1600/IMG_1384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQZSqlvqSac5HVDGv606dWH_9xn4QKiP5Vw5ANGditXzZeD0BFv1H3xDYUmN02Py2aWss_BUGU3xgRJHo6EseD1iYmfFydzDWZ45YIYmDYB5xL9ZwVdh_4JsWUX8lwiRlvAhAc_afWos/s640/IMG_1384.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Here's a view of the marketplace bustling on a Saturday afternoon, with local farm produce stands, as it has for hundreds and hundreds of years.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjs7_e8f-JL3Kj08YCM7eS6a659DoGegZJxNPj5sZKgs0dPV6malUegjoohoigajGToMkNYAdpN-7dGy9KGWk7QlwSxhOWqFqqNibB0j6nXp-P9LaQGC6cw3RCtzi9P0vtfDb_CbgXRkU/s1600/IMG_1417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjs7_e8f-JL3Kj08YCM7eS6a659DoGegZJxNPj5sZKgs0dPV6malUegjoohoigajGToMkNYAdpN-7dGy9KGWk7QlwSxhOWqFqqNibB0j6nXp-P9LaQGC6cw3RCtzi9P0vtfDb_CbgXRkU/s640/IMG_1417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A residential alley.</div>
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Looks as though Basel is short on building materials, but that's nothing a patchwork of Lego's can't fix!</div>
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Throughout the city of Basel, you'll find numerous fountains pouring fresh water out of small spouts, ready for the taking. This isn't just native to Basel either, throughout Switzerland, if you're ever in need of a swig, find a fountain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzRnyNzo0BIc4Ccquq_F-9zGZKyYpXRoynUKW2Y8OaudCrEGK70apLNdVdqSw2HAKfqqAbPycGmNjSs8cG3_4s8T0QLlRCZVHKrNVymrukUHLvbAnpasKfYi5dNct_-7FEALFxQnBHfs/s1600/IMG_1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzRnyNzo0BIc4Ccquq_F-9zGZKyYpXRoynUKW2Y8OaudCrEGK70apLNdVdqSw2HAKfqqAbPycGmNjSs8cG3_4s8T0QLlRCZVHKrNVymrukUHLvbAnpasKfYi5dNct_-7FEALFxQnBHfs/s640/IMG_1455.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Spalentor city gate, dating back to the 15th century.</div>
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Saturday evening we enjoyed a lovely dinner along the Rhine, at <a href="http://www.rhywyera.ch/" target="_blank">RhyWyera</a>. </div>
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From our table, we had prime seating to watch daredevils jump from the bridge into the river. </div>
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Sunday, Basel was covered in grey clouds and blankets of rain, so we headed to the museum! The popular fine arts Kunstmuseum was the perfect place to stay indoors. We enjoyed a timeless Renoir exhibit as well as some great pieces by Van Gogh, Picasso, Braque, and Klee.</div>
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And Spain takes the cake! We ended our weekend watching the 2012 EuroCup finals at an Irish pub called Paddy Reilly's. It was Spain v. Italy but wasn't much of a match as Spain swept the Italians, 4-0. </div>
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-87887600219230812782012-06-28T12:25:00.000-07:002012-06-28T12:29:33.639-07:00Willkommen - Basel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Guten tag! </b><br />
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We arrived in Switzerland on Monday evening after a long tumultuous journey, no thanks to the likes of Air France (& domestic partner in crime, Delta). However, the lovely food and wine on the 9+ hour flight over did make up for some of it - danka!<br />
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We're settling nicely into our cozy furnished studio apartment provided by Novartis. I've spent the last couple of days gathering the basics: food, pillows, a fan, and of course a scented candle to make the place smell nice and a flower for the windowsill. Our complex is located in what's called, Badischer Bahnof, to the northeast of the Rhine River. One of Novartis' campuses is located right across the street, and every morning that is where Brian catches the Novartis tram to work on the main campus just over the river. Brian's enjoying his first few days on the job. Everyone is very friendly and he's excited about his summer project.<br />
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We're looking forward to the many offerings this lovely country and culture have to offer. I've been busy visiting the Information center in Old town Basel, on the other side of the Rhine plotting out upcoming travels and excursions for this weekend and beyond.<br />
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Here's a glimpse into the past few days of our new adventure, Switzerland! <br /><br />
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The reason for our visit - Novartis </div>
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Brian looking good for his first day </div>
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Our new home for the next 2 months, located on Fasanenstrasse</div>
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Our small fridge in our galley style kitchen</div>
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View of the Rhine River from Grossbasel - the Large Basel side, located on the southwest </div>
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Walking path behind our apartment</div>
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Danka shein!</div>
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<b></b></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-78415433743380165132012-06-16T18:24:00.000-07:002012-06-28T12:30:05.333-07:00Yodelay-Hee-Hoo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Switzerland, the playground of Europe, awaits! In just one
week's time we will depart for this wonderful little country, where we will be
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Based in Basel, Brian will be interning with Novartis, the
second largest pharmaceutical company in the world. I’ll be working on writing
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two!</div>
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Team Feth is looking forward to yummy chocolate, fondue dinners, and new adventures in all things Swiss!</div>
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-56925248653442377342012-03-23T21:15:00.000-07:002012-03-23T21:15:48.553-07:00Japan!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Kon ni chi wa! Team Feth is in Japan! <br />
<br />
<br />
We are here for 10 days with Brian's Haas classmates for a Spring Break trip promising lots of amazing food, sites, and sounds. Brian and I arrived a few days early to visit Brian's dear friend, Kats, who was a high school exchange student in his home growing up, roughly 18 years ago! <br />
<br />
Here's a recap of events thus far:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Left San Francisco 12:30pm on Wednesday, March 21</li>
<li>Arrived Narita Aiport, 3:30pm on Thursday, March 22</li>
<li>The flight was 11 hours and not too bad, we flew over the Bering Sea/Arctic and were amazed with some epic 'Frozen Planet'-esque views</li>
<li>Our hotel is located in Yotsuya just west of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku,_Tokyo">Shinjuku, Tokyo</a> (which houses the busiest train station in the world!)</li>
<li>Friday, March 23 we met up with Kats! He traveled to see us in Yotsuya where we enjoyed coffee and conversation. He could only visit with us for about an hour as he had to get back to his shop, Cocozo, an <i>izakaya</i> Japanese restaurant he owns and operates. Cocozo means "a place to celebrate a special occasion". It is roughly one hour by train from Tokyo in Saitama. </li>
<li>The evening of Friday, the 23rd, we traveled by train (what an adventure it was and huge thanks to Kats' directions via Instagram!) to Saitama to eat at his shop and meet his parents! We had a WONDERFUL time! </li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Flight from San Francisco to Japan - over the Arctic</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBn3FsaFsPQBW2YUlX_4nzG8sDHApV6gneJsWQ9R6ee2ijvZC6oyYHIm22cVakel13aDOkYqtu3JhRjGYhc3ZUlzLc780UM0NfbCq8pVw-TmTP-0tLyxCYkYHMLHUzIz1tzmqzhN39sE/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBn3FsaFsPQBW2YUlX_4nzG8sDHApV6gneJsWQ9R6ee2ijvZC6oyYHIm22cVakel13aDOkYqtu3JhRjGYhc3ZUlzLc780UM0NfbCq8pVw-TmTP-0tLyxCYkYHMLHUzIz1tzmqzhN39sE/s400/IMG_0308.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We have arrived!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFmH7Dw1DW4VQDwMiGJHbf953mWHtjjPqPuREhJyiFocMIDJ1t9JjQvnYGsl1FdMuZdKyI_2qD6HTCBA9fPO23Fe1lr4zKcrnymCV_BCiLYz5SdRlZxljq8pWrPBe116aWZLkSbpCDDM/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFmH7Dw1DW4VQDwMiGJHbf953mWHtjjPqPuREhJyiFocMIDJ1t9JjQvnYGsl1FdMuZdKyI_2qD6HTCBA9fPO23Fe1lr4zKcrnymCV_BCiLYz5SdRlZxljq8pWrPBe116aWZLkSbpCDDM/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First meal in Tokyo -Sun Kee Restaurant, near hotel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqwP44V4X2XOfXbsJ0yyoNLoU5z7vSkbLOnAjl77ELyA9NAR009cf3vzOvhUVvkjgIuWEta5heQHjScn5ij6IlQfq64LAXYrY7guhYOizTjM4xazQLgEiLdATPAs-H8V0A9P0Z4iOCok/s1600/IMG_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqwP44V4X2XOfXbsJ0yyoNLoU5z7vSkbLOnAjl77ELyA9NAR009cf3vzOvhUVvkjgIuWEta5heQHjScn5ij6IlQfq64LAXYrY7guhYOizTjM4xazQLgEiLdATPAs-H8V0A9P0Z4iOCok/s400/IMG_0303.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunch on Friday at an amazing fish house in Yotsuya</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ECpv8RZ6YkYvDcSeknbjzOm8oVL6MccyaYdjtFL1uosy-kbhpX07WJ5Z5x_WcO091SKUPAkAuG-uN3lXBpkj9mU04nNZG8im3DXWno65tZ_3wP7pEmRv3dRGWzbvSJIH-XOxsn1AmpI/s1600/IMG_0403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ECpv8RZ6YkYvDcSeknbjzOm8oVL6MccyaYdjtFL1uosy-kbhpX07WJ5Z5x_WcO091SKUPAkAuG-uN3lXBpkj9mU04nNZG8im3DXWno65tZ_3wP7pEmRv3dRGWzbvSJIH-XOxsn1AmpI/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Friday afternoon coffee at Dutour with Kats!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeSQwwyhektpIWRFcXsJY_JajYROYm-NN-Zmn2r_Xa3pjY8izQZgLcSGeypetxF7popPmOCgl-CGpRksfSt4wqsxlsCKGw87tXVOKdr_njPN6VDWQC36SUvFkIF19wLNG14S36582Pss/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeSQwwyhektpIWRFcXsJY_JajYROYm-NN-Zmn2r_Xa3pjY8izQZgLcSGeypetxF7popPmOCgl-CGpRksfSt4wqsxlsCKGw87tXVOKdr_njPN6VDWQC36SUvFkIF19wLNG14S36582Pss/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brothers - wish Bill were here!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYhcwgAZFLaFoMxDXCIeviKsV8ewZ6OKvuNAZbzi7-pFeS56vQG1WypvHzn5-Pry8PUr_Txxl_LzOfSaNgygtQmZT9hfAj9RBGlc-vwCPd9zdG8JtAxBy5_8OTzW1-qZ4FAzU5KWmqek/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYhcwgAZFLaFoMxDXCIeviKsV8ewZ6OKvuNAZbzi7-pFeS56vQG1WypvHzn5-Pry8PUr_Txxl_LzOfSaNgygtQmZT9hfAj9RBGlc-vwCPd9zdG8JtAxBy5_8OTzW1-qZ4FAzU5KWmqek/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Traveling on Tokyo metro / Japan rail = crazy time (but we nailed it!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbQr1fiqez9UueIPppBIA93y2rGeESJAOOWPsHJj8pzx2xp7RcuV26HuT87hKiJPmID7CWUJR_NdjN70BCqCJABKMNnAEv2ih5KLVtxoO2PQKivWcaAf7B8xJ0WUriFzbBuBrkRtpi6Q/s1600/IMG_0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbQr1fiqez9UueIPppBIA93y2rGeESJAOOWPsHJj8pzx2xp7RcuV26HuT87hKiJPmID7CWUJR_NdjN70BCqCJABKMNnAEv2ih5KLVtxoO2PQKivWcaAf7B8xJ0WUriFzbBuBrkRtpi6Q/s400/IMG_0378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We made it to Kats' shop - Cocozo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MLhf38WwCj6P7oS4Kh7jd-EnsTRGgrC3wTTiSJlEQC6jZCoHLD99A4NiXgWc7Ouyi2KjWtXapIpFOdE5n9I1zIOimUDJ4buxObFnz7oa0UPqkvk_F49u8RtFD4EUpuT3UumIAu1t-14/s1600/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MLhf38WwCj6P7oS4Kh7jd-EnsTRGgrC3wTTiSJlEQC6jZCoHLD99A4NiXgWc7Ouyi2KjWtXapIpFOdE5n9I1zIOimUDJ4buxObFnz7oa0UPqkvk_F49u8RtFD4EUpuT3UumIAu1t-14/s400/IMG_0487.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Kats is an amazing chef and served us a magnificent feast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt7Gfm_obb-NGct3nJsTLXqLGIjmC2iHwWKTGnPqs_MMSC8hFC_7ZxfDzw5UwCnlJ_d8p9pav9siZvkB2cTvAY8mor1WRsJDTNzv_uyq1JrtCQixcGLHsGRskOUXgA5Nk3YTZwInHqmc/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt7Gfm_obb-NGct3nJsTLXqLGIjmC2iHwWKTGnPqs_MMSC8hFC_7ZxfDzw5UwCnlJ_d8p9pav9siZvkB2cTvAY8mor1WRsJDTNzv_uyq1JrtCQixcGLHsGRskOUXgA5Nk3YTZwInHqmc/s400/IMG_0478.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RJYdtFnxzfyIAbSlPp3IzF5RRhlus7xBBK2ljwx1eZkeknc1HgCrlEJgOJIgjPJOc1WKmkHN-Pxu4QYsVfcbWy3NvbT5pIF4E5HjqPqgjL7XygbI7p6hv_OISJ3qQcJNapRcuxo-7o/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-RJYdtFnxzfyIAbSlPp3IzF5RRhlus7xBBK2ljwx1eZkeknc1HgCrlEJgOJIgjPJOc1WKmkHN-Pxu4QYsVfcbWy3NvbT5pIF4E5HjqPqgjL7XygbI7p6hv_OISJ3qQcJNapRcuxo-7o/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7bBADgt0PVI-zHGOCeJTkiLvV51jZVCs1HCIE-guL4_d0klkEVLwsc9M8xOtcpggoE_A_GIdQ05u0K23S045_1dX9qzyT6XtAz-rwIP-eVRffqY5zCz4VRmZJhq56fGhnN_GER7HJyg/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7bBADgt0PVI-zHGOCeJTkiLvV51jZVCs1HCIE-guL4_d0klkEVLwsc9M8xOtcpggoE_A_GIdQ05u0K23S045_1dX9qzyT6XtAz-rwIP-eVRffqY5zCz4VRmZJhq56fGhnN_GER7HJyg/s400/IMG_0462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After about an hour, Kats' parents arrived - they are such lovely people!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjbd0cjBJoHrlePWxSooq3Xo35V8co3Vfwfu1ioJbxInWhV_GwYvQrT5hvfXraY8rTbVAv1VXqr15_0jisHQtKrdAvXpXeH0nPz61PmSfewMkRQczz_3A0fSCibqK_TyhJ6A9ES0YiUU/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjbd0cjBJoHrlePWxSooq3Xo35V8co3Vfwfu1ioJbxInWhV_GwYvQrT5hvfXraY8rTbVAv1VXqr15_0jisHQtKrdAvXpXeH0nPz61PmSfewMkRQczz_3A0fSCibqK_TyhJ6A9ES0YiUU/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDrdLKwyCER3A_ONi8xE5BwC-VgrBMLj_ZOtLrbkgP66RY3bhMBAVWFtVsgTgn3TjU4Fw4jSx5S8HT01rJ-1RSp3-8T8NFIJoj3EsRZVyOx8WmkbYwVMDNXbpC6M_g0qFplccxMOMdzU/s1600/IMG_0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDrdLKwyCER3A_ONi8xE5BwC-VgrBMLj_ZOtLrbkgP66RY3bhMBAVWFtVsgTgn3TjU4Fw4jSx5S8HT01rJ-1RSp3-8T8NFIJoj3EsRZVyOx8WmkbYwVMDNXbpC6M_g0qFplccxMOMdzU/s400/IMG_0475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6anFxSOtauQqluqSvEKirErf9sqLQy44X-xDPqUUpcxv-C0u2wMrCskctTvHMwSqgSFe6RY7Qxr7FEHd9jk9pFM4tUBTNwwgbBN4UDfbmeXIWE8J73joD18XM9Csb5w1a5JxmD1vYJLQ/s1600/IMG_0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6anFxSOtauQqluqSvEKirErf9sqLQy44X-xDPqUUpcxv-C0u2wMrCskctTvHMwSqgSFe6RY7Qxr7FEHd9jk9pFM4tUBTNwwgbBN4UDfbmeXIWE8J73joD18XM9Csb5w1a5JxmD1vYJLQ/s400/IMG_0479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbd_NbuIJqmkRvc2fPw1xtEu01pe4RLQqfyfA4WKQ8gbHllGhsBKeKzxyl1cMnrrIenzhg-h5nghuZdlH4di4MSCAl66Y_p6a68AdZBBAkT-ED6uOSknbBIQedGa2D1-9_WbQLP83OZw/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbd_NbuIJqmkRvc2fPw1xtEu01pe4RLQqfyfA4WKQ8gbHllGhsBKeKzxyl1cMnrrIenzhg-h5nghuZdlH4di4MSCAl66Y_p6a68AdZBBAkT-ED6uOSknbBIQedGa2D1-9_WbQLP83OZw/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Arigato Kats and family!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-3501470505490341362011-09-06T00:29:00.000-07:002011-09-06T00:29:33.961-07:00Happy Anniversary!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Well let me just dust off this blog a bit...there we go, my it's been a while! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We Feth's have been super busy! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh the transitions we've been undertaking lately, but more about that later. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right now it's all about our 3rd Wedding Anniversary! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or is it actually 12? (let's see, started dating in 1999 and well you get it...) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Whichever number you choose these two Feth's are celebrating! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Anniversary!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLwuo2CUeyPsRC4iqjOEQwtFR6FU0dHmSMzEM9m-T8gn50Gh-vJTxBWiDvnkVA8a2qU8AXtwyZggsH5Ao6Ka__53Zip9_1xiThEmGDu11k9bMFsxdMneZIKyRtNMDGpyG8H9FLp27I7c/s1600/IMG_2089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLwuo2CUeyPsRC4iqjOEQwtFR6FU0dHmSMzEM9m-T8gn50Gh-vJTxBWiDvnkVA8a2qU8AXtwyZggsH5Ao6Ka__53Zip9_1xiThEmGDu11k9bMFsxdMneZIKyRtNMDGpyG8H9FLp27I7c/s320/IMG_2089.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-6959684478808479172011-06-30T23:02:00.000-07:002011-06-30T23:02:30.830-07:00San Francisco Summer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Hello San Francisco summer! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The next couple of months are going to bring about some new adventures:</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Move to Berkeley: ripe with aging hippies and intellectuals</div><div style="text-align: center;">Road trip to the Pacific NW: excited for tall pines and some Canadians</div><div style="text-align: center;">Early August school days: new backpack and iPad for Brian</div><div style="text-align: center;">New dog: we're on the hunt for a new family member</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and hopefully some more backyard camping with our nephew!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS_dkaei02S1Me5rPfETc3wCcMnNsRcF6aRlFfN8OESzdFvB9ZtfGH6d9HtGU_DY3GQry2U3G77RhJRPDAjOREED_DF4GrYGJ1ADIv9frhxKEMrDwfb8ESvQ00qeO0TDdpC5M4kdbbhk/s1600/IMG_0781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghS_dkaei02S1Me5rPfETc3wCcMnNsRcF6aRlFfN8OESzdFvB9ZtfGH6d9HtGU_DY3GQry2U3G77RhJRPDAjOREED_DF4GrYGJ1ADIv9frhxKEMrDwfb8ESvQ00qeO0TDdpC5M4kdbbhk/s320/IMG_0781.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-48840639217038201692011-05-04T20:03:00.000-07:002011-05-04T20:03:44.978-07:00Berkeley It Is, Folks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">The decision is in, America has decided, Brian Feth will be attending Haas Business School at UC Berkeley starting this August. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a 2 year MBA program and it looks like it's going to be a bit of a tough one. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">From what I've gathered, there will be lots of Friday night networking parties (costumes required), networking trips to Tahoe, networking trips to Vegas, networking trips to <i>insert name of city here</i>, hiking, biking, bonding, some studying, networking over drinks, more networking...and so on and so on. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">It should be a <strike>fun </strike>productive, <strike>eventful </strike>resourceful 2 years!<br />
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Congratulations Brian!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYdleGUFVJ16bLW95lWVdDSjtBPmS5wmCv5yfKCRVJ-VtDvPXB4lt61sFl2oBP0tsR53v7z0WYZFlvaNgD7IgOD601BunRT_s0shwqO5ymHbKyAPkUIvMreR-hfb-LghxSzL49KFVc00/s1600/haas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYdleGUFVJ16bLW95lWVdDSjtBPmS5wmCv5yfKCRVJ-VtDvPXB4lt61sFl2oBP0tsR53v7z0WYZFlvaNgD7IgOD601BunRT_s0shwqO5ymHbKyAPkUIvMreR-hfb-LghxSzL49KFVc00/s320/haas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-89905154515648093582011-04-26T20:42:00.000-07:002011-04-26T20:42:04.192-07:00Decisions, Decisions: Kellogg vs. Haas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">We're home from our visit to Chicago and it's lovely neighboring state, Indiana. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a lovely time checking out Kellogg and visiting with friends and family. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, we have not yet made a decision! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Humph....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The deadline for Kellogg is fast approaching so this week will be chalk full of spreadsheets, charts, graphs and perhaps even a coin toss. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stay tuned!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYAqLatgbju0iZPH1Z8wYT5vmRq1nsMi2VB7VeJSSwxBeuYPy7v8qkyiUjRR-kWwUYgqPP8f4MPZOcr93sPMuEkLV0XXawtSEW6x0yveiW8o3oU8vl9egwApzrvJkuTttacTnv5TF1uU/s1600/Friends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYAqLatgbju0iZPH1Z8wYT5vmRq1nsMi2VB7VeJSSwxBeuYPy7v8qkyiUjRR-kWwUYgqPP8f4MPZOcr93sPMuEkLV0XXawtSEW6x0yveiW8o3oU8vl9egwApzrvJkuTttacTnv5TF1uU/s400/Friends.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunch with good friends in Lincoln Park</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz8qfhHx2OEDajAIP83zfQC0XyfDiG0ywnXlfNAraFgP5xXWVR67WisJSpMekdzrUfq19TmAdgl3JDCq2ylTw5NBom8mM1t_s6G6tNHAnSJJQrihGjTjnb9j7AYij_mvPygziWluZomM/s1600/Chicago.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz8qfhHx2OEDajAIP83zfQC0XyfDiG0ywnXlfNAraFgP5xXWVR67WisJSpMekdzrUfq19TmAdgl3JDCq2ylTw5NBom8mM1t_s6G6tNHAnSJJQrihGjTjnb9j7AYij_mvPygziWluZomM/s400/Chicago.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Flying through Millennium Park in downtown Chicago</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIuOUuT3U_OXzLJJSOCORNHmJoMF2lnMTNS7i-aAf2QQ1GpOt2njZC6UdNO8PNle7uneVLnAaDLO6cxLBT1F0_AjNR61Pzr4oA79EgCfmruyfA7fK4y56BVS7IGY7idJ_VC71SMKOo18/s1600/jed+michelle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIuOUuT3U_OXzLJJSOCORNHmJoMF2lnMTNS7i-aAf2QQ1GpOt2njZC6UdNO8PNle7uneVLnAaDLO6cxLBT1F0_AjNR61Pzr4oA79EgCfmruyfA7fK4y56BVS7IGY7idJ_VC71SMKOo18/s400/jed+michelle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jed and his fiancée Michelle (not sure what Brian is doing...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91bwEJaboyvBRG2WiT0I3Ba2DHZ8eZeepsaPRs9hK7JlqxlC7pCjHup9uoaBSAfm86Ukn1pHaM9CONF5IlTgUu_N6T001Q3ZKbMIvDVRlNGEuMOn4B3UGsp3IrXl3q54_6gvjAaTLv8Y/s1600/Torsor+Brian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91bwEJaboyvBRG2WiT0I3Ba2DHZ8eZeepsaPRs9hK7JlqxlC7pCjHup9uoaBSAfm86Ukn1pHaM9CONF5IlTgUu_N6T001Q3ZKbMIvDVRlNGEuMOn4B3UGsp3IrXl3q54_6gvjAaTLv8Y/s400/Torsor+Brian.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Torsor and Brian: awesome jumping action</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJFai4MBSzrtm-nCPM2Q1q_UmGb5K8wrtJBv_NLm5g5vaqHlaGPgWb1JHugKwnRAjZ-3M9U-_0EKEUHdw6F9TLKj-Jwh3JUC_GzXIPkNrXekI-qPPhi7WPGf-w5vlDoXMLkwknGOl484/s1600/Us.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJFai4MBSzrtm-nCPM2Q1q_UmGb5K8wrtJBv_NLm5g5vaqHlaGPgWb1JHugKwnRAjZ-3M9U-_0EKEUHdw6F9TLKj-Jwh3JUC_GzXIPkNrXekI-qPPhi7WPGf-w5vlDoXMLkwknGOl484/s400/Us.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hello Chicago</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-17402675184648645092011-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:002011-04-14T11:32:47.377-07:00The Windy City<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">We are off to the land of wind, to the city by the lake. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chicago, Chicago, my kind of town. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hey there Chicago!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, to be more specific we're actually heading to Evanston which is north of Chicago. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And why you might ask? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To visit Kellogg! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now this isn't the Corn Flakes kind of Kellogg nor the Frosted Flakes which I coveted as a child. This is the Kellogg of Northwestern type. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are visiting this weekend to determine whether the Chicago land area will become our new home for the next 2 years.<br />
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It's down to the finals folks, the business school contenders are Kellogg and Berkeley's Haas.<br />
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California vs. Midwest<br />
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Pacific Ocean vs. Lake Michigan<br />
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Tahoe vs. Chicago's tallest hill<br />
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SF Giants vs. Cubs<br />
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California Pizza Kitchen vs. Deep Dish Pizza<br />
<br />
49ers vs. Da Bears<br />
<br />
Hippies vs. Chicagoians<br />
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What will it be?<br />
<br />
Well, it all really boils down to the program and fit.<br />
So we'll see how this weekend pans out and keep you posted!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLn2chF2oGvbu74A4GA2i938MxsYDZNBkPwDrJ5OvQ-qBfrQaLRt67Drjgd5hoQLzz89Y6DSA26DeLsTYnCwmt5ZCSmm0K4jKqF06ooOIT9Aih1up-bH9cdptG6BfjrTSQeCJmKOA-14/s1600/chicago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLn2chF2oGvbu74A4GA2i938MxsYDZNBkPwDrJ5OvQ-qBfrQaLRt67Drjgd5hoQLzz89Y6DSA26DeLsTYnCwmt5ZCSmm0K4jKqF06ooOIT9Aih1up-bH9cdptG6BfjrTSQeCJmKOA-14/s400/chicago.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dam.brown.edu/people/glin/Chicago_Postcards/page_01.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Chicago </span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ldj5aJvR-o5HchspCu9EFoybFGzZa7eu1wuOTB1vRWGbHRDEizfba7euDw-Js91s8uWol9BqXChgFLuCbmJLMa7GIgA9WO6K8f5_OhUzCZeB_zDekGuKpMj6f5pbDg9RRxXqzqCredA/s1600/berkeley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ldj5aJvR-o5HchspCu9EFoybFGzZa7eu1wuOTB1vRWGbHRDEizfba7euDw-Js91s8uWol9BqXChgFLuCbmJLMa7GIgA9WO6K8f5_OhUzCZeB_zDekGuKpMj6f5pbDg9RRxXqzqCredA/s400/berkeley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://rcsa.berkeley.edu/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Berkeley</span></a><br />
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</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-58484745967166491012011-04-08T23:12:00.000-07:002011-04-11T17:10:15.193-07:00First Job Flashback: Electric Hole Puncher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">While volunteering today with Equal Rights Advocates, I overheard someone ask their colleague for a hole puncher. The colleague responded questioning whether that person wanted an electric or hand-held hole puncher. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Suddenly my mind raced back =<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> first job flashback</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Did I ever tell you about my first week at my first <i><u><b>real</b></u> </i>job? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There I was, fresh out of college in my new role as an Accountant at this super great investment management firm in Los Angeles. It was my first week and so far things were going really well, everyone was super nice and I was pretty much in the home stretch; the last few hours of Friday afternoon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little did I know what was in store.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Near my desk was our department's electric hole puncher. Simple enough to use, one would think. All you do is put a few pages into the slot and it automatically punches three holes into the paper. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enough said. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well I happened to need to use the device that particular afternoon and unfortunately placed one too many pieces of paper into the slot. This resulted in the puncher making a funny grinding noise and my pages getting stuck. Luckily, one of my colleagues came to my aid. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The following few minutes went a little something like this:</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">I reached to the side of the table on which the hole puncher was placed and unplugged the machine</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">My colleague pulled out the pages seamlessly</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I reached over once again to return the plug to the socket </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Unbeknownst to me my long hair was dangling over the hole puncher's evil metal clamps</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Hole puncher hole punched my hair</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I screamed </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">My colleague ripped my hair from the clutches of the deadly puncher</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">I looked at my colleague </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">She looked at me </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">We both looked down</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">A huge chunk of my hair was lying on the floor next to my foot</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The room smelled of burnt hair</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And there in concluded my first week at my first <u><i><b>real</b></i></u> job. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's just say they threw me one heck of a going away party when I departed a few years later. It was chock-full of hole punchers. I'm well stocked. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Do not try this at home people - leave this up to the professionals please</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1KVrrDC5gE5vSdGceQEQvk0JPvANPsF0NfS3J-Hg3_d7a0UvlkHwDzaVUbCuJ5eezW993wjp4rhbxG8vX8Z5fZP6GcGV2Hs-N7fT_w8QZmC3kBJ7E3DlVByR1w8sR3OMzSXJeOFNp8M/s1600/electric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1KVrrDC5gE5vSdGceQEQvk0JPvANPsF0NfS3J-Hg3_d7a0UvlkHwDzaVUbCuJ5eezW993wjp4rhbxG8vX8Z5fZP6GcGV2Hs-N7fT_w8QZmC3kBJ7E3DlVByR1w8sR3OMzSXJeOFNp8M/s1600/electric.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gG68kabxBdejXttGpzyT7oZbUiWfxkz__I7sQK3sgSDbrSGat33Qfp0zTOW8Q1LILmmPUoRsi8AtO_d4ZISSEo17tu3hcHipjkK6xsRMrlNHG8uN0dYHBSzL-TFOOHRfJH4_Euxtfyw/s1600/hole+punch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-gG68kabxBdejXttGpzyT7oZbUiWfxkz__I7sQK3sgSDbrSGat33Qfp0zTOW8Q1LILmmPUoRsi8AtO_d4ZISSEo17tu3hcHipjkK6xsRMrlNHG8uN0dYHBSzL-TFOOHRfJH4_Euxtfyw/s1600/hole+punch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiX41G8Sw-FUPyA9_ZZARNNZ9ndUH_IHCorXUKU8JZw5RyHb_Z4pl0Ovy07dQl_JFj0RiXR-CPtG0x75dMu3vcV5dg6d8Kx6zEW8u-YEIf3FHKFcYz0V_lCMte50IohaSZAMDPX37Zlu0/s1600/punch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiX41G8Sw-FUPyA9_ZZARNNZ9ndUH_IHCorXUKU8JZw5RyHb_Z4pl0Ovy07dQl_JFj0RiXR-CPtG0x75dMu3vcV5dg6d8Kx6zEW8u-YEIf3FHKFcYz0V_lCMte50IohaSZAMDPX37Zlu0/s1600/punch.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-20920385558675174912011-04-05T22:26:00.000-07:002011-04-05T22:26:44.313-07:00Just Another Tuesday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today was a lovely day but nothing spectacular happened, so I thought I'd just jot down a few unextraordinary things to remember because otherwise they'll be gone from memory forever and that would be no fun....<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Traffic was really bad coming into San Francisco this morning which is rare</li>
<li> I had a rock in my shoe on the way to catch the 38L bus</li>
<li>The guy sitting next to me on the bus smelled strongly of cigarette smoke</li>
<li>I made Brian a really large lunch today all compartmentalized into single serving Tupperware containers: veggie pizza / celery and peanut butter / raisins - dried cranberries - dried bananas - dried apples / granola bar / veggie burger with english muffin / meat sandwhich on english muffin </li>
<li>I think Brian consumed every bite</li>
<li>I chatted with a woman at lunch about her upcoming wedding</li>
<li>I asked a guy at the gym if he was done using the sit-up bench and he said yes and then walked away without wiping off his sweat (I wiped it off before using)</li>
<li>I think cell phones should be banned in a gym setting because it's annoying when a person is talking loudly on their phone whilst working out on the elliptical machine </li>
<li>My brother sent me a silly email and he never sends me emails</li>
<li>Brian told me he tried to send an automated prank call to our friend but it didn't work :(</li>
</ol>Hope you had a delightfully uneventful Tuesday.<br />
<br />
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I'll leave you with the astronomy picture of the day - isn't it pretty!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuwIQs7PH9wx1xtDtslcX-nodtKHhCrE6fOJtAJ8nWEUTMvWhJ7IyhLbuTlSM8VZPCxkGUbrahO48tBXB4P5FPILEoM_PHfiw4vAz49XGhtArrpx4CXTnDzP33GKgTdCXVcYhjuxetps/s1600/m74_baixauli_900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuwIQs7PH9wx1xtDtslcX-nodtKHhCrE6fOJtAJ8nWEUTMvWhJ7IyhLbuTlSM8VZPCxkGUbrahO48tBXB4P5FPILEoM_PHfiw4vAz49XGhtArrpx4CXTnDzP33GKgTdCXVcYhjuxetps/s320/m74_baixauli_900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-41612076658315416902011-03-31T10:54:00.000-07:002011-03-31T10:54:37.231-07:00Lumberjack Feths<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Having a fireplace at our apartment in Tiburon has been a toasty delight. </div><div style="text-align: center;">However, with a fireplace comes the need for firewood and it's not like back in the Midwest where one can chop down a tree on the back acre; here it must be purchased and it's <i>expensive</i>!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We purchased our first quarter cord of wood in February and to our dismay it didn't last as long as we had hoped. So instead of purchasing another bundle, like the resourceful Feth's we are, we went scavenging. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a recent visit to the Castro to meet friends for brunch, lo and behold, what does Brian spy with his little eye?! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah - a pile of logs on the side of the road! Who would have thought?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We quickly assessed the situation and swiftly loaded those logs into our VW. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another opportunity arose last week when one of the torrential rain storms knocked down a tree branch outside of Brian's office. Again, like clockwork we scavenged up all that would fit in the car. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So that brings us to last Saturday. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The joys of finding logs for free are quickly met with the realization that they do not split themselves. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We mentally changed out of our resourceful hats and into our imaginary flannels and showed that wood who's boss:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_t_A-YEUBdpoUoq1cvNvERU4uRCeZZmlwwDPwUqfGuaoGP0ZCHavHiSKvO-pGxjl0iHGj1vEjIs-GM_4Dj1R28VfpGI091v54qCf42tRvE3QWpZX1kzVoeWPrv_IsDyBzfZkateGuUE/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_t_A-YEUBdpoUoq1cvNvERU4uRCeZZmlwwDPwUqfGuaoGP0ZCHavHiSKvO-pGxjl0iHGj1vEjIs-GM_4Dj1R28VfpGI091v54qCf42tRvE3QWpZX1kzVoeWPrv_IsDyBzfZkateGuUE/s320/IMG_0362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIY4SC-6vF8_gfXLHrVH2eYs4SFWyMX8FnD9DBdzn_-u39pM8Ao8c8KDvleiSpZuYj02a-PAMh0W0gzpcKOpUzwTXuNi5DFbIi_CcteXL_pi6E7ridESCTiLOwEcfy7Zh4YME20_pQpM/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIY4SC-6vF8_gfXLHrVH2eYs4SFWyMX8FnD9DBdzn_-u39pM8Ao8c8KDvleiSpZuYj02a-PAMh0W0gzpcKOpUzwTXuNi5DFbIi_CcteXL_pi6E7ridESCTiLOwEcfy7Zh4YME20_pQpM/s320/IMG_0366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzg39jbH05bB17QRWbLFD1UixrwOwWST9CUyJ5UgBjzJdej8TBb1ti1Y-ne6npW8mB-lVD2DwZ1MvQcundH' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Next weekend we shall plant trees :)</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-70202681121054096672011-03-19T12:44:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:44:48.154-07:00Look What the Rain Brought In<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">It's been a rainy one here in Northern California lately and with the rain comes all sorts of creepy crawly slimy little creatures from who knows where. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I prefer to leave such beasties outside in their natural habitat but Brian usually has other things in mind. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hence, the following. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brian calls to me after returning from taking out our recyclables, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Jalyn come here, hold out your hand and close your eyes." </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I figured there would be no harm in this effort given Brian can be quite the romantic at times, so I decided to follow along. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With hands open and cupped ready to receive some fun little gem of thoughtfulness, I instead receive these guys:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, snails!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDSy9qDt3-bwqVNhzeTbWCatWcHSERK3KPDF6esfuFbTrAFgN6ZC9AjDnH1y5wP-DDuFKQ8I9eSxv0qJhDjHOvSGokub0eSxFdHPKYb3i98F0pv5CabHJcQDizAq0P4b37fV_17BXVd8/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDSy9qDt3-bwqVNhzeTbWCatWcHSERK3KPDF6esfuFbTrAFgN6ZC9AjDnH1y5wP-DDuFKQ8I9eSxv0qJhDjHOvSGokub0eSxFdHPKYb3i98F0pv5CabHJcQDizAq0P4b37fV_17BXVd8/s400/IMG_0347.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I didn't freak out or anything but instead took them to a better lit area for further viewing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-WsSeMvRqQBYUnAd1pDwxEN8Xoly5L8MWH4bE8uBREURxG75QK2XntBLcHDR5BNtnjJgePX9PR0oqgF0ME5lTjI7xGl9dNFwW_PDQxJHMi9yERvh5vAiFeWn0wnF0IKmwrC95zAOAak/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-WsSeMvRqQBYUnAd1pDwxEN8Xoly5L8MWH4bE8uBREURxG75QK2XntBLcHDR5BNtnjJgePX9PR0oqgF0ME5lTjI7xGl9dNFwW_PDQxJHMi9yERvh5vAiFeWn0wnF0IKmwrC95zAOAak/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brian got in on the action as well</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6ip0jAAu94yBJOYBoQAEsFIwi63KCsSIyUSmJCj90YU-j4_TEtOsb6tFl8nbkN3VnzMnX9zYNTpcp6ciaUDWgGdVDwyzWuL76Iq9DY02XZ8q6rMEJ1eczj_ElMGenRO11tkkzUc1_Y8/s1600/IMG_0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6ip0jAAu94yBJOYBoQAEsFIwi63KCsSIyUSmJCj90YU-j4_TEtOsb6tFl8nbkN3VnzMnX9zYNTpcp6ciaUDWgGdVDwyzWuL76Iq9DY02XZ8q6rMEJ1eczj_ElMGenRO11tkkzUc1_Y8/s400/IMG_0335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see the fascination in his eyes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkH_grz86YYxOFqMXuXdxHZFTICOVSf0g7YXrbx3lh4DrIoEmEImaZ2oLA85ZkskuQ_S1WId5v_t3gQ861yNOCwKFIwyhJwuvl2PrkNxfmuUaLvTE8FhaFcxOJ2ERR8nSdHCY77mCtvc/s1600/IMG_0340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkH_grz86YYxOFqMXuXdxHZFTICOVSf0g7YXrbx3lh4DrIoEmEImaZ2oLA85ZkskuQ_S1WId5v_t3gQ861yNOCwKFIwyhJwuvl2PrkNxfmuUaLvTE8FhaFcxOJ2ERR8nSdHCY77mCtvc/s400/IMG_0340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty much for a half hour straight our kindergarten brains allowed us to <i>ooh</i> and<i> ahhh</i> over these slimy shelled mollusks. I have to admit, it was fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Note: one must wash very thoroughly to remove all snail slime from hands!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Nature is soo cool. </b></i></div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-36156714857053107172011-03-17T11:50:00.000-07:002011-03-17T11:50:58.029-07:00Erin Go Braugh - My Dear Grandmother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">Today the heritage of my family's people will be celebrated by green-wearing, whiskey-drinking, look-at-me-I'm-Irish toting Americans and the like all over this land. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well whether you're an authentic Gaelic speaker or just a once-a-year-Irish loving fool, I wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sZGGih4m4X-wUizPHr7p73XPl0j-ix1lRP5xP5YyDSTS_5YDrwWUQW_g40xUudkLbtI5e56HivdlccGE1dfDF7_jmD1iSq_K3TDefhg9uaeRt-r9ON3SoiYiEm7rgibajqnl1-f5dPI/s1600/eringobragh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sZGGih4m4X-wUizPHr7p73XPl0j-ix1lRP5xP5YyDSTS_5YDrwWUQW_g40xUudkLbtI5e56HivdlccGE1dfDF7_jmD1iSq_K3TDefhg9uaeRt-r9ON3SoiYiEm7rgibajqnl1-f5dPI/s320/eringobragh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This time of year brings back fond memories of my dear grandmother Catherine A. Leitch Tunnell; a feisty, quick-witted Irish lass from Belfast who emigrated to the states in the early 1950's.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 1955 she married my grandfather, a Midwestern native and together they had my Uncle Kerry, Aunt Eileen, mother Colleen and Aunt Catherine; all carrying forth the Irish legacy in their names. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was little my siblings, cousins and I would spend loads of time at my grandparent's house, raking up fall leaves in the front yard, jumping into their bright colors at day's end; helping to clean and tidy things up in the house and simply listening to my grandmother's <i>funny</i> accent. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My Grandma Tunnell was a force to be reckoned with, when she wanted things done a particular way they were done as so. When tidying up in the house, it was often my task to dust off the bookshelf near the front window and after I thought I was done, she would question me with her strong Irish dialect, <i>'Now did you get the tops of the books like I asked?'</i> I couldn't lie to this woman, she would have seen right through me, so every time I would have to go back and dust the books again, just like so. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A visit to grandma's house always meant a delightful trip into her shiny glass candy dish full of sweet and minty treats. Often times she would also make us buttered toast sprinkled with just the right amount of sugar - it was a simple delicacy that only she knew how to make. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Being the little kids that we were, my siblings, cousins and I would be playing around the house and someone would pass gas - <i>it happens.</i>.. Well this always got a rise out of my grandmother. Once she got wind of the perpetrator's scent she'd yell, '<i>Who blasted!?' 'Who <b>bloody</b> blasted!?'</i> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh we thought this to be the funniest thing ever! First off we knew that bloody was a bad word in her book and secondly she would just start <b>raging</b> as the Irish often do when they get in a tizzy. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The list of fond memories goes on and on with my dear grandmother and I consider myself ever so fortunate to own such wonderful thoughtful gems. My grandmother passed away when I was in 6th grade to a series of illnesses. She was far too young to depart from us and her memory lives on with me and the rest of my family today and always. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So please enjoy your corned beef and cabbage this day and <b>Erin Go Braugh </b>to you and my <a href="http://www.lowellpl.lib.in.us/tunnellc.htm">dear grandmother</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">An Old Irish Blessing</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">May the road rise up to meet you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">May the wind always be at your back.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">May the sun shine warm upon your face,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">and rains fall soft upon your fields.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">And until we meet again,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">May God hold you in the palm of His hand</span>.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;"></span></span></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-49032537955825756652011-03-14T14:21:00.000-07:002011-03-14T14:27:28.962-07:00Take Heed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The recent events in Japan are more than heart-wrenching, words can barely describe the horrible tragedy taking place there. Our prayers and thoughts of hope and healing go out to all those suffering. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With forewarning of the approaching tsunami wave headed for the West Coast, Brian and I were surprised by a certain sight on our way into work on Friday morning and the revealing behaviors of humans. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As we scooted along Tiburon's main road headed for the 101 freeway, we noticed a large gathering of gawking, touristy-like folks fixing their attention on the Richardson Bay. With ease we slowed our vehicle, mostly in response to those in front of us, who too, were also trying to figure out what these people could possibly be looking at. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We quickly realized that with cameras in hand, they were waiting, watching for that tsunami wave to impose upon our shores. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ummmm.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm no expert in all things MacGyver, but common sense tells me that if there is a tsunami warning or any other natural disaster alert you do not go to the very place in which such an event might occur. I repeat, you DO NOT go towards the danger. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Perhaps it's the world we live in today, the up-to-the-minute YouTube clips, Tweets and FB posts; everyone wants to be credited with being the 'first' to report a scene. However, when presented with a potentially life-threatening scenario I'll always choose flight over fight. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Case in point</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whilst enjoying an everyday, normal taxi ride one evening in the city of Accra, Ghana, Brian and I were no more than 1 mile from our apartment when danger sprung out of nowhere. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I, sitting in the back, Brian in the front passenger seat, promptly noticed the dashboard lights go dark. With no warning, smoke began to emit from all vents; so naturally, I reacted. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Despite the vehicle still moving at a good </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">clip</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I jumped from the taxi. I didn't even flinch,without a thought, my body responded as if I'd be training for such an event to take place while living abroad in Africa.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I ran down the road a ways, making sure I created a good distance between myself and the car. As I glanced back, assuming Brian had immediately followed suit, I realized that he was still in the vehicle! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh my goodness! What kind of a wife was I!? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I quickly ran back to the car to save him from the threatening doom, realizing his passenger door wouldn't unlock. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By this point the car had come to a full stop and I swiftly flung open his door to release him from the danger. Without hesitation he yelled, "What the heck are you doing? You just jumped from a moving vehicle?!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was confused by his confusion. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, quickly taking in the fact that the dashboard smoke didn't amount to the treacherous explosion I had envisioned in my mind, I could kind of see where he was coming from. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fortunately, we were not that far from our apartment, so we paid the taxi driver for his services as he phoned for assistance and we walked home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>End case in point</u>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>A few things can be gathered from this scenario:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. I choose flight, <i>literally</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Brian assesses the situation, builds a strategic analysis in his brain on the pros and cons of each potential outcome and then chooses the most rational route </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(all of which he later revealed to me and as long as the door isn't locked)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. At the end of the day we generally come to the same conclusion, we just have our different methods of getting there </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>All in all, if you are ever presented with a potential dangerous situation, heed any warnings available to you and don't go towards the danger. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sadly however, life doesn't always play out like this and even with forewarning, devastation still occurs. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let's take action for those who were impacted by the Japanese earthquake and pour out our hearts for their suffering. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are some ways to contribute to the relief efforts: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Text: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">REDCROSS to 90999</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to donate $10</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Give: <a href="https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_NewsArticle&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000">Red Cross</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_NewsArticle&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Give: <a href="https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/site/c.tvI3IeNUJsE/b.5760419/k.2CB3/Donate_Now/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=tvI3IeNUJsE&b=5760419&en=6pJBKLNnG5IKKVOqG4KGJXPHJpKTL0NBKjIPIQMpGcKNIZPMG">Salvation Army World Services</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Information: <a href="http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html">Google Crisis Response</a></span><br />
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</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-36222924686111921062011-03-10T18:20:00.000-08:002011-03-10T18:20:00.682-08:00The Transition Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">We Feth's are living in what I'd like to formally call <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">The Transition Years</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's kind of like <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #d9ead3;">The Wonder Years</span></i> but without all the braces and awkward first kisses....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This chapter of our life follows <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">The Dating Years</span></i> which began with our marriage and will end roughly around summer of this year (give or take a month).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You see when the Feth and I became one, I had a good idea (after 9 years of courtship) of what I was getting into: fun / adventure / deep intellectual conversations / stuff like that</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well what I didn't know was that we Feth's would become quite the world travelers and consumers of all things change. We have truly lived by the mantra: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ea9999;">the only constant is change.</span></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Years of Transition</span></i> have included a wedding in Napa / apartment in San Francisco / a year in Africa / return to San Francisco / move to Tiburon </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And soon we will be closing out this treatise with our next big change-agent =</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <u>business</u> <u>school</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">B-school Brian has been a busy pre-bee-schooler these past 6 months, what with all the GMAT studying & essay writing & interviewing. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've happily been on the support staff - acting as editor in chief and all things </div><div style="text-align: center;">GSD (that's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">Get Sh_ _ Done</span> - we're all adults here so you can fill in the blanks) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday was the grand finale of interviews, culminating with HBS; a climactic conclusion to an intensive, soul-searching process and rightfully so. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever the outcome may be (and we'll know around the end of the month) it has been arduous, tedious, strenuous, and any other -ous ending words you can think of! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But fantastically worth every brain teasing moment. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For both of us this chapter will end on a positive note, highlighting the fact that there is so much to do and so many things we can be in this grand old world of ours. But our time is limited, so we must maximize what has been given to us so we can give to others and truly make a difference.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They (and I'm not clear on exactly who 'they' are but just roll with it) say that successful people are the ones that don't give up after failing, because let's face it we all fail but it's what we do after we fail that makes us great. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So here's to a future of failure and success and to nearing the end of </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;">The Transition Years</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>It's been a sweet ride</u> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What will be the premise for our next chapter?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Here are a few thoughts: </u></div><div style="text-align: center;">- The Puppy Years</div><div style="text-align: center;">- The Beardless Years</div><div style="text-align: center;">- The Baby Years (that one's for you mom!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">- The We're as Broke as Grad Students Years</div><div style="text-align: center;">- The I Wish We Could Afford a New iPhone Years</div><div style="text-align: center;">- The Remember <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ffd966;"><i>The Transition Years</i></span>...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-50519711386378366302011-03-07T22:44:00.000-08:002011-03-07T22:44:40.695-08:00A Snuggly Scarf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">It seems only a handful of selected outfits have been making it </div><div style="text-align: center;">out of our closet and onto my body these days. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't really notice that I had reduced my wardrobe to an elite class of snuggly scarves, cardigan, jeggings and boots until the husbster commented on my pants this morning on the way into the city. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">B-hub: <i>'You're wearing those pants again! Haven't you been wearing those for the past 3 days now?' </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Me (in my defense): '<i>No I have <u>not</u> been wearing them for the past </i><b><i>3</i></b><i> days now, just on Saturday and now it's Monday, I gave them a break yesterday....'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What's the <u>BIG</u> <u>Deal </u>anyway?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you recall, when we lived in Africa I was confined to a portable wardrobe a la suitcase. I had only packed so many clothes, leaving necessary space for souvenirs and knowing we would only be away for 6 months - which later turned into a full year abroad. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After a while, I maxed out all possible combinations for said articles of clothing and ultimately created my own line of <i>Jalyn uniforms!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It appears that despite having access to an entire closet full of cotton, polyester, lycra and rayon, I have unknowingly moved in this same direction. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmm....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going to chalk it up to strategy. Yes, strategy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You see, I know what I like and what looks good on me so I have subconsciously-strategically-vetted my clothes cupboard into the most efficient outfits available in line with the times. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There. That's it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">OR </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">- I guess life's just a little simpler with some <i>clothing consistency -</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hey I didn't say anything about lacking cuteness!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's your self-imposed uniform?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCeCjlUT1P1nSEO14_H5zlKUONzvSmueGwCce9P1Sd_9TF3P2OTQc2ZSmWc625cviV2sOCaxJZ_U4S1Ai82nVKkk9nCht5XkayRQKfN8PRryVSQ2E4nnvVieibolSvMyWAT76jJLKxVA/s1600/Snuggly+scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCeCjlUT1P1nSEO14_H5zlKUONzvSmueGwCce9P1Sd_9TF3P2OTQc2ZSmWc625cviV2sOCaxJZ_U4S1Ai82nVKkk9nCht5XkayRQKfN8PRryVSQ2E4nnvVieibolSvMyWAT76jJLKxVA/s640/Snuggly+scarf.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the way, The Husband's been sportin' the same messenger </span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hat for ages now - and it's supercute! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5xJTVHCRRTOJLdST0EJMONIBS-MXPW0T5py9dCXnL93MDaC07tzCe_5O96YtP2q7VPexnkP-dCyz7t_fkJE1829q-EiB28hpkE24lKHvD_e1GW0aO7t9yTNdzFQbR_uPbkx5UnCAAIo/s1600/Messenger+Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5xJTVHCRRTOJLdST0EJMONIBS-MXPW0T5py9dCXnL93MDaC07tzCe_5O96YtP2q7VPexnkP-dCyz7t_fkJE1829q-EiB28hpkE24lKHvD_e1GW0aO7t9yTNdzFQbR_uPbkx5UnCAAIo/s400/Messenger+Hat.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-42913233290657555932011-02-28T15:28:00.000-08:002011-02-28T15:28:03.468-08:00Mt. Tama - wuh?!?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The OHIO Feth's are in town and we are up to nothing but <i>adventure</i>. A series of winter storm warnings tried to stand in our way this weekend but we powered through the sunny weather (California weather forecasters are quite dramatic if you didn't already know....)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SYqThEA98Fu-EA012HwIry5pNmzmXscCU43viRnB_p7l1A-uwL9nPhAiMSfBKcmmQlF-AY6jxN9_nJ0TpVf7qkYZNTR93HiGQ4oZRRsz_RDzp_h-ALKMW1vDHMUYbO-0KzYWFFsL1U/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0SYqThEA98Fu-EA012HwIry5pNmzmXscCU43viRnB_p7l1A-uwL9nPhAiMSfBKcmmQlF-AY6jxN9_nJ0TpVf7qkYZNTR93HiGQ4oZRRsz_RDzp_h-ALKMW1vDHMUYbO-0KzYWFFsL1U/s320/IMG_0112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter NO-storm 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Adventure took us around our Tiburon home, on a ferry ride to visit our beloved City of San Francisco and to the top of the nearest mountain, <b>Mt. Tamalpais -</b> s<i>ay that really fast 5 times!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQjfrL_6ekG37HL2SjVNoz0CZsFa_U3lpLXbnBsh4cUPgOBI8I3xvujDs42L5fIIr5Zh5UlSLx9veLUwkevd6AOiw5qPJpd-WAUWsIHfCGKpomVGCEF4QO_Cqj03ammXw_e4XkOI6i_c/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQjfrL_6ekG37HL2SjVNoz0CZsFa_U3lpLXbnBsh4cUPgOBI8I3xvujDs42L5fIIr5Zh5UlSLx9veLUwkevd6AOiw5qPJpd-WAUWsIHfCGKpomVGCEF4QO_Cqj03ammXw_e4XkOI6i_c/s320/IMG_0091.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiburon ferry<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brian the amazing fire-builder (<i>we enjoyed a number of snuggly fires due to the wintry weather outside</i>) set up our telescope and played a game of 'Eye Spy'. After viewing far away neighbors enjoying a drink on the patio or dinner at their table we focused our lens on the very tip-top of Mt. Tam. There we discovered a unique fixture that we just had to go and check out in person. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNcqxk3-7aKfH4NhqgWYqzIVKFNU_N2t5ju14RurJudm9RKj8Zr4Srx_ai_1EooNIIflYRQCdpmTXcJ5_tfqk9SwpjvelUhiNnxCAs6BFYA_v4gBeYxusysZ_SNlLbReBsHs5FETSoRo/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNcqxk3-7aKfH4NhqgWYqzIVKFNU_N2t5ju14RurJudm9RKj8Zr4Srx_ai_1EooNIIflYRQCdpmTXcJ5_tfqk9SwpjvelUhiNnxCAs6BFYA_v4gBeYxusysZ_SNlLbReBsHs5FETSoRo/s320/IMG_0207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">So along the 101 we ventured, following signs to Muir Woods (named after that epic outdoorsman John Muir) and skirted our way up to Mt. Tamalpais. The tippy-tip-top required a bit of fancy footwork over a rocky path but the reward at the end made it all worth the effort. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVLkwnv0f_7Gz4tihQZaGXXRsHPVVT_LHEQItlMMD02xilgCBaRXa8RDkTvu-1pCcaxh7SWOToRsS5DGk6E62jqrHgNj7jmTIcuA4a93an-utv1sHEbUJIC8e4n4NPrGK3XikOfEexuM/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVLkwnv0f_7Gz4tihQZaGXXRsHPVVT_LHEQItlMMD02xilgCBaRXa8RDkTvu-1pCcaxh7SWOToRsS5DGk6E62jqrHgNj7jmTIcuA4a93an-utv1sHEbUJIC8e4n4NPrGK3XikOfEexuM/s320/IMG_0159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A: fancy footwork & sweet stylin' moves (notice the robot hand)</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The fixture we spotted through our lens from far far away turned out to be an old fire lookout. It appeared to be fully functional and has been taking in the magnificent views since 1937.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT27VnIhbQdsdlbJtQygRKn_uCSbGwhFWmZpKQ494jtk9xdKpSna1XGr7epLAvQsoD4UxWlVf8seirLjeV_mRDGik-TQ_cgNl2nJIbbeae2iBLFBJ3rU1GmtMdNAV1OFbu31WXPjPddM/s1600/IMG_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDT27VnIhbQdsdlbJtQygRKn_uCSbGwhFWmZpKQ494jtk9xdKpSna1XGr7epLAvQsoD4UxWlVf8seirLjeV_mRDGik-TQ_cgNl2nJIbbeae2iBLFBJ3rU1GmtMdNAV1OFbu31WXPjPddM/s320/IMG_0184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">After our fill of breathtaking scenery we coasted down the mountain to Stinson Beach. A requisite cocktail was in order to set our afternoon straight and then we continued south on Hwy 1 - my favorite road in the land. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iWYX3CQGH_l6-g17dGNkQgwpV-xpZPjQz3veEFpLSP-Cday_XJP01o7-ijuhjU0x77FNo0Mf4QUva_8mcxvOtfhJFfEhzF6IhF7k-G__rVGywixpLITHpYXsz4ot9SiUPgWPAhLvWyo/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iWYX3CQGH_l6-g17dGNkQgwpV-xpZPjQz3veEFpLSP-Cday_XJP01o7-ijuhjU0x77FNo0Mf4QUva_8mcxvOtfhJFfEhzF6IhF7k-G__rVGywixpLITHpYXsz4ot9SiUPgWPAhLvWyo/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Mt. Tam</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you haven't done PCH <i>(Pacific Coast Highway) </i>you just haven't lived. It represents all that is great in this lovely country of ours. It makes you feel as though everything is possible and we should take nothing for granted.... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Get there!</i></b></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaI_pa4U8SIHG7gjqO4NkoJPuxDCv8gRfH6aRc_TA5IXuia_E-7gWqbo2Xhjdcao0Mict4THQgVNWqtHu6uldxway_CaK7mkrkgZ83_Sq-zfObRnhAueJmuuZIhQN_yfjV-eq9TSpml0/s1600/IMG_0176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaI_pa4U8SIHG7gjqO4NkoJPuxDCv8gRfH6aRc_TA5IXuia_E-7gWqbo2Xhjdcao0Mict4THQgVNWqtHu6uldxway_CaK7mkrkgZ83_Sq-zfObRnhAueJmuuZIhQN_yfjV-eq9TSpml0/s320/IMG_0176.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the North Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The OHIOians are heading south in the days to come to visit that other group of West Coast Feth's in San Jose. It's been a delightful visit and we look forward to our next adventure!</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vdX8ox7mm9-i21PsjKePCbu0LtrayPQpxI89WCbeyu2xehwPXal-jjYuQyZJSNNoFDOY7qjokFtuQJgQpK8F1Sq0mnzrX-hs6emG_Z5qJdKY7MYMlpMxQDXjM2hYJX_eLftvcP6MtKs/s1600/IMG_0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vdX8ox7mm9-i21PsjKePCbu0LtrayPQpxI89WCbeyu2xehwPXal-jjYuQyZJSNNoFDOY7qjokFtuQJgQpK8F1Sq0mnzrX-hs6emG_Z5qJdKY7MYMlpMxQDXjM2hYJX_eLftvcP6MtKs/s320/IMG_0151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLubs-fh56xJWe0Z9MXtaVsLnB98i0szDEbcTuxxyObuTALsPtXm7lQAQkwMfALV84wkkue9rIyk0sK8YdFIyaXVZufkRTpymjMHtXex3cr_NA_IIF93LkEsx_RuzqD1h585ECBZyuJCE/s1600/IMG_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLubs-fh56xJWe0Z9MXtaVsLnB98i0szDEbcTuxxyObuTALsPtXm7lQAQkwMfALV84wkkue9rIyk0sK8YdFIyaXVZufkRTpymjMHtXex3cr_NA_IIF93LkEsx_RuzqD1h585ECBZyuJCE/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
</div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5996946024551813962.post-19530426010300301752011-02-18T15:41:00.000-08:002011-02-18T15:41:05.070-08:00Manchego in the Window<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There's been a lot of talk over here lately about adding a new <u>addition</u> to this team of ours. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back and forth we discuss whether or not we're ready for such a big change and if this is the right time. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So to help us make a more informed decision we looked into some resources around the city and found just the one to give us the insight we needed: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SPCA's Puppy Parenting Class </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>PUPPIES you say....well, w</i><i>hat did you think we were talking about????? </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh yes that <i>other</i> kind of 'addition'. Wellllll, we will just have to see about that another time....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Boy did we learn a lot at that class. First of all we were late, not just a few minutes but like 15 minutes late and thinking back on it that's not a good start to learning how to be a good puppy parent. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Apparently puppies urinate frequently and thus are required to be taken out every 2 hours or so. This would be a serious adjustment to our schedules as most days we are very <i>'go with the flow'</i> kind of folks. But SPCA made it clear that puppies' bladders do not accommodate such flakey behavior. Ahhh, I'm already feeling like a horrible parent! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As we all know, during the teething process, puppies will find anything and everything within your home to chew on. I can just imagine this future scene: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>We walk in to find a half chewed voodoo doll hanging from the mouth of our dear puppy.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now you can't easily replace a voodoo doll my friends. This one in particular (and you are wondering why we even have a voodoo doll - you can take that up with my husband) is from Togoville, a small West African village in the country of Togo, that we had to take a boat to get to, so <u>not</u> cool future puppy-child!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, puppies are loving, furry-soft, playful creatures that will love you unconditionally with their big brown puppy dog eyes and hearts; as well as leave you little presents in your shoes or under your bed. Nevertheless, there's a reason we are so smitten with our canine companions - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>c'mon they're supercute! </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All in all, the Puppy Parenting Class gave us a lot of good information, so much so that we're not really certain of our next step. There are a lot of wonderful older dogs out there that also need homes and perhaps a puppy is a choice we make later in life when we finally do decide to start adding humans to our clan. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So at this point we are torn and won't make any hasty decisions until we feel the timing is right <i>or</i> fall in love with a <i>particular</i> dog - like that one named <u>Manchego</u> at the SPCA shelter!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*uber-joy* </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know it's a silly name but you <u>should</u> have seen him! Oh he was <u>so</u> cute and adorable with his <u>sweet</u> doggy ways and <u>delightful</u> jumping and playful tricks. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hmmm...maybe a Manchego will join our team or perhaps another dog, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">someday.....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's Bosco, my parent's dog who just showed up one day last October, maybe that's how you find the right one, they find you first!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WGe8Ai0KqbVTP49_sTO32TEQDIZ5AbboYTNw8qAVjYfBuhuiwI6YM45n50GlsHyXDRr2KWHLI4DIUGs0EVXqQCUn3oYebpb1QN-Ah0UqUTEoSD2PN5oPFTYg9bjPgxY0aePU09vL3yc/s1600/IMG_1711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WGe8Ai0KqbVTP49_sTO32TEQDIZ5AbboYTNw8qAVjYfBuhuiwI6YM45n50GlsHyXDRr2KWHLI4DIUGs0EVXqQCUn3oYebpb1QN-Ah0UqUTEoSD2PN5oPFTYg9bjPgxY0aePU09vL3yc/s400/IMG_1711.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>J*Fethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12739405959083066467noreply@blogger.com0